Food, Fitness and Holidays

Many are
starting their wellness challenges early this year, making them “Maintain,
Don’t Gain, Holiday Wellness Challenges.” The time to
strategize ways to enjoy the holidays and stay healthy during
them is before the feasting and food follies begin...more

There will be many
high fat, high calorie choices available at the parties for the most
popular football game of the year. Here are some ideas on how you can make the choices healthier by how you prepare
the recipe you choose to take...more

Smoking the Thanksgiving turkey is gaining popularity. “That
hot, smoky air in the smoker makes for tender meat and a
wonderful flavor, but special care must be taken to assure a
safely smoked turkey”...more

One way to prevent holiday stress is to prepare some of the food
ahead of time and freeze it. From casseroles to cookies you can have
a large portion of your holiday food prepared before the actual day
arrives...more

With the holiday season in full swing,
many people are thinking about the festive dinners and bulging
potluck meals they will prepare or be invited to. But others are
thinking about where they will get their next meal...more

Most people want to provide a special
Thanksgiving meal
for family and friends, but no one wants to overspend.
University of Missouri Extension has a series of brochures that
can help you to prepare meals for less...more

At the end of every year and beginning of
a new one, people make resolutions to lose weight. Many times, people
feel guilty about the weight they’ve gained during the holidays.
This holiday season, try following some of these steps...more

As the holiday season approaches, many of
us have holiday parties and gatherings to plan. This means we
face the daunting task of keeping our family traditions without
breaking our budget. With some creativity and planning ahead, we
can stick to a budget while still making this season fun and
memorable...more

During the holidays, many people accept that
they are going to gain weight and assume they can lose it later.
The best plan is to avoid gaining holiday weight so you never have
to worry about losing it. Try these tips for maintaining your weight
during the holiday season...more

Cooking and eating together during the holidays
are among the simple things that can bring comfort and joy to our
lives. Here are five comforting ways to make food and nutrition
a central ingredient of your holiday season...more

Holiday celebrations are all about food,
and this can be very challenging for individuals dealing with diabetes.
With some planning ahead and keeping to your routine, you can manage
your diabetes through the holidays...more

It’s that time of year when we think about changes we
want to make in our lives. For many people, those resolutions include a vow to eat
healthy, exercise and/or lose weight. Here are some suggestions
for habits that can make a positive impact on your health, as
well as tips for making those habits stick...more

On February 14 there are lots of gifts exchanged
between people who want to show their affection, respect or love.
The National Confectioners Association estimates that 36 million
heart-shaped boxes of chocolates will be sold for Valentine’s Day.
If you want to indulge your Valentine with chocolate, give chocolate
covered strawberries as a more healthful alternative...more

This is the time of year when many people
start diets. But after a few weeks of not getting enough to eat
or eating food that does not taste good, most dieters give up, having
"failed" once again. The truth is, though, it is the diets that
are the failures, not the people who try them...more

How are you coming on your New Year's resolution?
Making progress? Or, is it history already-just hours into the New
Year? You can make resolutions anytime during the year-then
put a plan into action. What is important with resolutions or goals
is that we make a commitment and monitor our progress towards those
goals. These resolutions also need to be reasonable...more

Neckties may be a popular Father's Day
gift, but wouldn't it be nice to give
Dad the gift of a long, healthy life? In honor of Father’s Day, here
are some of the most important foods for protecting men’s health...more

When it is time to give kids a treat, it
is easy to think of candy or soda, but with childhood obesity on
the rise it's time to think about fun alternatives. There are
lots of great options that promote health and physical activity...more

It’s hard to think of Halloween as a holiday
to practice healthy habits when the goal for most children is to
get as much candy as possible for their own private stash.
However, this
is a great time to set a good example in your own household and
to remember that moderation is one key to a healthy diet...more

Many people only cook whole turkeys for the holidays, so the following information has been developed
as a guide for purchasing and preparing turkey. Learn how to
safely roast,
smoke or deep fry your turkey...more

During the Thanksgiving season there may
be concern about the bird flu (Avian Flu), but don't let that stop
you from serving turkey. Health officials are not concerned about
the spread of Avian Flu through food sources...more

Looking for just the right gift for someone
special on your list? Consider something that promotes an active
lifestyle like the items on this list. Or, circle the items you’d
like to find in your stocking on Christmas morning and leave the
list where Santa’s helpers can’t help but notice it...more